Drain-pipe cleaner



Oct. 4 192".

LOCKE DRAIN PIPE CLEANER Filed Sept. 20. 1924 Qty] v INVENTOR HEY-Hui?"-Zoo/r5 v ATTORNEY Patented Oct, 4, 1927.

" UNITED *srA -s DRAIN-PIPE CLEANER.

' Application filed September 20, 1924. Serial No. 738,737.

to whichtheconnection is made for receiv-' ing water under pressure andwhere n the construction of the cup is such thata further application ofpressure within the pipe may be effected by compression oft-he cup.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of the abovestated character equipped with an interiorly located anchor hook forsecuring the cup tightly in place and to prevent leakage during theapplication of water pressure.

Other objects'of the invention reside in the various details ofconstruction of the.

cup, the disposition of the anchor hook and the means for tightening orreleasing the latter. 1 r

In accomplishing these and other ob ects of the invent-ion, I haveprovided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein s t Figure 1is a side view of a drain pipe cleaning device embodying the presentinvention, shown partly in sectional vlew for the purpose of betterillustration.

Figure 2 is a lower end view of the same.

Figure 3 is a view illustrating the use of the device for cleaning outthe drain pipe of a bath tub or the like.

Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating the application and use of thedevice for clean ing a closet.

I Referring more in views of the draw1ngs 1 designates, in its ent1rety,a device embodied by the present invention, comprismg a handle portion 2of a desirable or convenient length having a downwardly opening cup 3mounted at the lower end thereof; the handle having a ring 4 fixedthereto against which the cup seats.

In its preferred form of construction, the

upper portion of the cup is made of hard detail to the several providedcentrally on the outside with-a socket 5 w1thin' which the end' of thehandle is seated and on. the'inside with a conically tapered head6 inwhich is formed a spherically curved, downwardly facing socket 7.-Extending through this upper portion or" the .cup at one'side of thesocket 5 isanipple 8 to which a flexible tube or hose'9 is attachedwhich at its outer end maybefitted over a faucet, or-the-like, -10,'of awater pressure system;

' The'side wall portion 11 ofxthe cup is formed integral with the upperportion but is of thin, flexible rubber and is formed in AR UR-Loom, 0FTAcoMA, WASHINGTON.

rubber, or other suitable material, anditis a series of annular,corrugationsas-indicated at 12 which permits the cup wall to becompressed andto expand in its axial direction.

It is of smaller diameter about its lower edge or rim than across theupper portion and this provides that the lower end may be wedged withinan outlet as will presently be described.

For the purpose of securing the cup in place while, water pressure isbeing applied to clean out a drain, I have attaching or anchor hook 15,within the upper part of the c-up'having a shank 16 threaded into asleeve'17 that is fixed within the lower end of the handle as shown inFigure 1.

Assuming that the device is so construct ed, it is used in the followingmanner:

'For cleaning the drain pipe of a sink, basin, 'tub, or the like, theanchor hook .is first extended. sufliciently that the hook portion maybe hooked over the usual spider or valve guide 20 in theinlet to thepipe; such spiders being provided either as a mounting for a valve stemor to prevent provided an V the entrance of waste matter into the drain.

The handle 2 is then rotated so as to draw the hook shank into thesleeve. and to thereby tighten the cup edge against the base of the tub,The hose 9 is then attached to the faucet .of a water pressure system,preferably a hot water connection, and the water admitted into the cupto force an outlet through the clogged pipe. It is readily apparent thatthe pressureof water'inside the cup will act to expand the cup'walls andthus more tightly clamp it against the base ofthe tub and leakage'isimpossible.

If it is desired to create an additional pressure, thiscan be effectedby compression 1 of the cup to drive the water therein into I merits ofthe cnp operated by the handle, at.

drain can be quicklyrcleared.

For cleaning out .a closet of the type,

the drain, and a series of pumping moveshown in Figure 4, the lower endportion of the cup is fitted into-the drain opening,

" then the water is turned on to force an outlet, Normally, the internal1' cu will ch-mp the-walls against the edges of the openin sufiicientlythat there will '7 I leakage, 5 .nt should itJoe required, the

7 cup can be compnessed'so that the comically 7 tapered '6 will wedgeitselfv into the n holdthem against the. edges of the opening; and*thus'prevent any possible leakage.

i "I is J opening againstthe cup Wells to clamp and apparent wariouschanges in the idetaiisof construction of the device .conid'madew'ithont I vdeparting fnom" the I s Virit of the invention, andforth-is reason do not Wish to be limited oniyxto the con- I I ressure,4 created bythe admittance of water lnto-the 9 5' 0' formed of .ayieldable, Lair end ater-tight material, the side WfliiiS 0f the tempbeing formed in a series of annular corrugations and the upper portionof the cup" having a socket in its onter [face and formed inside theoupwith a depending, comically tapered head'a-ndn handle fitted intotheeocket. g

2. A devioefioif the class described, comprising an inverted, cup likenember adapt ed tobe'appiiedover the inletwozf-Ja pipe to be cleaned,:said cup having a rejla rely 'rlgid upper portion 'andI'haVin-grelatively rigidly fixed the; upper-Portion ofthe cu a hook locatedWithin'the cup having its shank threaded irrtoathzejhehdle, the hook asa means of seocrringthe clip; in place, 4a

nipple fixed in the upper-portion of the cup andeahose conneotiouon:mfpplefihrmIgh V .thin, flexible side walls that are annnilarlycorrugated and adapted to be. compresse 1 in the axial direction ofthecup, a handle being adapted for application to a fixedw member in theinletotthe pipe to, clear-led which water minder pressure mey be admitted into thecup. I

signed at Tacoma, washeden, t is-512th day of-September, 1:924; z

